From a practical point of view it is often desirable to limit the complexity of a topology optimization design such that casting/milling type manufacturing techniques can be applied. In the context of gradient driven topology optimization this work studies how castable designs can be obtained by use of a Heaviside design parameterization in a specified casting direction. This reduces the number of design variables considerably and the approach is simple to implement.

Bibliographical note

Eurohorcs/ESF European Young Investigator Award: “Synthesis and topology optimization of optomechanical systems”. DCAMM Research School via the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation. Danish Center for Scientific Computing (DCSC).